Check endorsing machine



April 1, 1941.

FIG. I.

5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

' ATTORNEY April 1, 1941. 3 BRAND 2,237,269

CHECK ENDORS ING MACHINE Filed Aug. 12, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT R M @d ATTRNEY April 1, 1941. s. BRAND CHECK ENDORSING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY Filed Aug. 12, 1938 April 1, 1941. s. BRAND CHECK ENDORSING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 12, 1938 ATTORNEY Ap 1, 1941. 5. BRAND CHECK ENDORSING MACHINE Filed Au 12, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 1 I I I I 7143 I47 1 84 FIG. I0.

INVENTOR ATT'oRNEY z fi l/I571] Patented Apr. -1, 1941 CHECK ENDORSING MACHINE Samuel Brand, Binghamton, Y., assignor te International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 12, 1938, Serial No. 224,653

Claims.

This invention relates to printing mechanisms generally, but specifically to endorsing mechanisms for checks for printing the bank endorsement onchecks passed through the machine.

The millions of checks handled by banks and depositors must be endorsed with either the deposit endorsement .or the transit or clearing house endorsement. It is the customary practice in many establishments to effect the endorsement byv a hand stamp which is necessarily slow and produces illegible, non-readable endorsements.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a machine for printing the endorsement and which will print the endorsements rapidly, clearly and efliciently.

The present improvements have been preferably applied to a check sorting machine of the type shown in the patent to F. L. Fuller, No. 2,- 079,442, dated May 4, 1937, but it is obvious that the improvements in part or whole can be applied to machines of other types and the disclosure of the present embodiment is to be considered merely as illustrative and not. restrictive.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a check endorsing mechanism which is capable of effecting two types of endorsement either of which may be selected at the will of the operator. Such types of endorsement are utilized in connection with two different forms of check handling, one requires the printing of the date and a block number, and the other requires, in addition, the printing of other data identifying the bank clearing the check, etc.

A still further object 'of the present invention is to provide a check endorsing printing mechanism with a pump actuated ink feed to positively force the flow of ink to the inking rollers, and a further object of the invention provides means for varying the ink now in accordance with extent of endorsement selected.

Another specific object of the present invention is the provision of means to throw the check endorsing mechanism in or out of operation, selected at the will of the operator so that the machine may endorse checks or not, as theyare sorted.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of automatic means which is rendered operable by the depression of a key for effecting a clutch engagement between the main driving shaft and the check endorsing printing cylinder.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a check endorsing cylinder comprising settable wheels for printing the date and block number, and a pair of electro printing plates which may be selectively set to print additional data when a full endorsement is required.

Another object of the present machine which is a safeguard to insure perfect endorsing operations is the provision of a warning means to signal to the operator if the printing cylinder has not been clutched to the main drive shaft when an endorsing operation is required, thus eliminating the possibility of a check passing through the machine without an endorsement being printed thereon. g

In general, the operation of the machine for endorsing operations requires the initial depression of an Endorse key (Fig. 8). The operator then places each check into the chute or check entrance l9, and the passage of a check therein actuates a mechanism which will permit a clutch. engagement (Fig. 3) between the main driving shaft 56 and the endorsing cylinder 50. At this time a constantly rotating shaft 3| (Fig. 1) is being driven by the motor of the machine and; when the check has been inserted a Motor re-' lease bar 20 (Fig. 2) is depressed and the second clutch (Fig. 2) engages to drive the main driving shaft 34. A partial rotation of the latter will permit the automatic engagement of the clutch (Fig. 3) to engage the endorsing cylinder 50 with the maindriving shaft 34 and the check will now, be fed by the endorsing cylinder and a cooperating platen 5|.

It is desirable to keep the printing cylinder 5U, platen 5|, feed rollers 52 (Fig. 3) to small diameters and this requires two revolutions of such elements to completely feed the checks which are occasionally abnormally wide. However, two revolutions .of the printing cylinder 50 would effect two endorsements and such is prevented by disengagement of the clutch when its first revolution has eiiected. The check endorsing printing mechanism, inking rollers, etc., are carried by. a reciprocable frame 54 (Fig. 4) which in its normal elevated position (Fig. 3) is near the check entrance l9 so as to receive the inserted check and the frame 54 is then lowered to bring the feeding and endorsing rollers close to the compartment receiving the endorsed check.

A warning signal circuit includes a buzzer 2I5, (Fig. 2) cam-operated contacts 2H, contacts 2 closed by the Endorse key and other normally closed contacts 213. Upon the clutch engagement for rotating the printing cylinder the normally closed contacts 2l3 will open so that even though the cam-operated contacts 2|! close voir and the depression of the piston I84 pumps the ink through a tube I92 to the printing cylinder inking roller I6I. The piston is elevated step by step for each clutch engagement of the printing cylinder and thus ink feed is effected commensurate with actual check endorsement operations.

An adjustment effected by lever I98 (Fig. 8) is provided to determine the amount of ink pumped for the same number of endorsing operations. For a full endorsement one adjustment of a lever I98 is made and a maximum amount of ink will be pumped. Another adjustment of the lever I98 will reduce the ink fed, and obviously this adjustment corresponds to the partial endorsement operations. In each position of the lever micrometer adjustments may be made by screws I96, I91 so as to determine with precision the amount of ink fed. Hence by such means the endorsements will not be over-inked and will be legibly and clearly printed.

- Further objects of the instant invention reside in any novel feature of construction or operation I or novel combination of parts present in the embodiment of the invention described and shown in the accompanying drawings whether within or without the scope of the appended claims and irrespective of other specific statements as to the scope of the invention contained herein.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation showing the right side of the check sorting machine to which the present improvements are preferably applied.

Fig. 2 is a detail view of a one revolution clutch mechanism its electro magnetic control thereof, and the instrumentalities of the signal circuit.

Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view of the sorting drum showing particularly the normal relationship between the endorsing and check feeding mechanism and the check sorting compartments.

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation disclosing the reciprocable frame which supports the endorsing cylinder, platen and feeding rollers.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the endorsing mecha-- nism and the inking mechanism therefor.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the ball check valves utilized for the pressure feed inking mechanism.

Fig, 6A is a detail sectional view taken on the line 6A6A of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of certain of the parts which cause the automatic clutch engagement of the printing cylinder for the endorsing mechanism with a drive shaft, and is taken on the line 'I'I of Fi 5. t

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 88 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a detail view of certain of the parts associated with the one revolution clutch mechanism for the endorsing printing mechanism.

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal view partially in section of the printing cylinder showing the assembled relationship of various parts thereof.-

Flg. 11 is a cross sectional view taken on the line II--II of Fig, 10.

Fig. 12 is a cross sectional view taken on the line I2-I2 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 11 but shows the operation of means whereby the endorsing printing electroplates may be depressed to inactive position when suppression of printing therefrom is desired.

The present invention is preferably shown in connection with a check or document sorting machine fully shown and described in Patent No. 2,079,442 dated May 4, 1937.-

A machine of this type is provided with a sorting drum I I] (Fig. l) loosely mounted upon a shaft II and rotated by a chain I2 from a drive shaft I3 driven by a motor. The shaft I3 may be rotated in either direction so as to rotate drum It in either direction so as to select a desired sorting compartment carried by the drum ID by the shorter of two directions of rotation. By means of keys I4, of which there is one for each compartment, the extent of rotation and the direction of rotation of drum I9 is pre-determined, and said keys control an electromagnetically stop mechanism generally designated by the numeral I5 in Fig. 1 which cooperates with lugs I6 carried by the drum Ill to stop the drum at the desired position. All of the means for carrying out the above functions are well known and fully described in the above cited patent.

In Fig. 3 there will be seen a portion of the sorting drum I0 and several of the sorting c'ompartments IT. The checks or documents I8 to be sorted are taken from a. pile and are individually inserted by hand in a feeding chute I9 between feeding rollers to be hereinafter described. The feeding operation is initiated by the depression of a motor release bar 29 (Figs. 1 and 2) and in the present machine effects the endorsing of the check or document.

- Motor release bar Check feeding and endorsing operations are rendered operative when the motor release bar 20 is depressed. As best shown in Fig. l, the motor release bar 29 is positioned exteriorly of the check and document sorting machine for a manual depression. The motor release bar 29 (Fig. 2) is carried by a slidable key stem 2I carrying a pin 22 which, when the key stem is depressed, closes contacts 23. This completes a circuit as shown in Fig. 2, from the line side 24, through contacts 23 now closed to clutch control magnets 25 to the line side 26 thus causing deenergization of magnets 25.

Referring to Fig. 2, there will be seen a showing of ratchet clutch wheel 21 which constantly rotates by driving means new to be described. Secured to a drive shaft 28 is a sprocket gear (not shown) around which passes an endless chain 29 (Fig. 1) surrounding a sprocket gear 30 attached to a shaft 3I. Attached to said shaft 3I is a pinion 32 meshing with a gear 33 loosely mounted on a shaft 34 and to which gear 33 Lin: ratchet wheel 21 is secured.

Attached to the shaft 34 is a disk 35 carrying a spring pressed clutch pawl 36 having a tail 31 normally engaged by a shoulder 38.0f a clutch control arm 39: From Fig. 2, it will be seen that the armature 40 of magnets 25 is integral with the arm 39 so that energization of magnets 25 will rock the clutch control arm 39 to remove shoulder 38 from the tail 31 thereby permitting a spring II to rock the clutch pawl 36 into engagement with the ratchet wheel 21 thereby rotating the drive shaftfl. When manual lected compartment.

pressure on the motor release bar is relieved, the flexible blade of contacts 23 will raise the key stem 2| permitting contacts 23 to open to cause the deenergization of the clutch control magnets-25 and such opening of contacts 23 is effected before shaft 34 has effected a full rotation so that at the termination of a single revolution of shaft 34, the tall 31 will strike the shoulder 38 and will engage the tail 31 so as to rock the clutch pawl 36 and disengage it from the ratchet wheel 21. The movement of the armature 48 and the clutch control arm 39 for this purpose is effected by means of a spring 43 which is connected to the armature. 48 which is operative when the clutch control magnets 25 are deenergized. Thus, by the above described mechanism the shaft 34 is given a complete rotation to effect functions now to be described.

Check feeding mechanism After the drum ID has been positioned according to the selector key |4 depressed, the check I8 to be endorsed or sorted is inserted in the aperture l9 (Fig. 3) and the motor release bar 28 is then depressed to cause it to feed the inserted check into the selected compartment by feeding means now to be described.

The check are fed into the compartment by feed rollers comprising a platen roller and an endorser printing cylinder 58 and a pair of smaller feed rollers 52. All of these rollers normally occupy the position shown in Fig. 3 and in their upper elevated positions the rollers 52 are free of the sorting drum to permit the unobstructed rotation thereof and this position also places the rollers 565| near the entrance chute l9. Upon an operation of the check feeding mechanism the rollers are lowered to bring the lower rollers 52 into the selected sorting compartment |1.

Secured to a rock shaft 53 (Fig. 4) is a pair of spaced frame plates 54 carrying a shaft 55 upon which is journalled a frame to be later described carrying the platen roller 5|. The shaft 56 upon which is journalled the printing cylinder 58 is carried by upwardly extending brackets 51 (Fig. 4) one secured to each of the side frame plates 54. The rollers 52 are carried by shafts 58 and 59, the latter shaft being carried by the frame plates 54 and the shaft 59 is supported between adjustable brackets 69 pivoted on shaft 55 and adjustably secured to the frame plates 54 by screws 6|.

Also secured to the rock shaft 53 is a cam arm 66 carrying followers engaging complementary earns 61 secured to the shaft 34 which, it will be remembered, makes in Fig. 4 a complete counterclockwise rotation for each check feeding operation. At the proper time the cams 61 rock the shaft 53 and frame plates 54 clockwise to bring the rollers 52 into the entrance of the se- At this time the rollers are now rotated by means now to be described.

Attached to the shaft 34 is a gear 68 (Fig. 4 in mesh with an intermediate gear 69 loose on a fixed stud 18 and which irrespective of the lowering of the frame plates 54 drives a gear 1| loose on the shaft 53. The gear 1| meshes with a gear 12' (Fig. 4) fast on the shaft 55. A gear 13 (Fig. 3) fast to the shaft 55 on the opposite side of the frame plate 54 from the gear 12 meshes with a gear 14 fast on the shaft 56. The counterclockwise rotation of the gear 68 through the train of gears just described rotates the gear 14, the shaft 56, and as will be later described through a clutch mechanism the printing cylinder 56 will be rotated thereby.

The gear 14 meshes with an intermediate gear 15 (Fig. 3) which, in turn, meshes with a gear 16 secured to the shaft 59, and the gear 16 mesh es with a gear 11 fast on the shaft 58. This causes the feed rollers 52 on the shafts 59 and 58 to rotate in opposite directions so as to receive and feed the check fed by rollers 50 and 5| into the selected compartment.

Endorsing mechanism While the machine may be arranged to cause the endorsement of each check, it is preferable to provide for a selective control of the endorsing mechanism, and this is preferably placed under control of a key 89 (Fig. 8) designated Endorse.

In the present machine the printing cylinder 58 is connected to the shaft 56 by a clutch de-' scribed as follows:

The shaft 56 has attached thereto a clutch disk 8| (Fig. 8) whichis in the plane of a clutch pawl 82 pivoted at 83 to a disk 84 which is secured to the printing cylinder 58 by means to be later described. The clutch pawl 82 is provided with a tooth or lug 85 which is adapted to engage one of two teeth 86 of the clutch disk 8|. The-clutch tooth 85 is prevented from normally engaging the teeth 86 by a clutch control arm 81 which normally engages an extremity of the clutch pawl 82. but when the arm 81 is rocked counterclockwise it will be disengaged from the extremity of the clutch pawl 82 to cause a spring 88 connected to the clutch pawl 82 to rock the latter so that the tooth 85 engages the one of the teeth 86 of the disk 8|. For the sake of safety, two teeth 86 are providedso that if the tooth 85 has failed to catch the first tooth 86 in the initial rotation of shaft 56 it will catch the second tooth 86. With the clutch engagement now effected the disk 84, and'therefore, the printing cylinder 50 will now be rotated and at the end of a complete revolution of the disk the extremity of the clutch pawl 82 will now strike the arm 81 which has again been positioned as shown in Fig. 8, as will be later described, to thus disengage the tooth 85 from the tooth 86 of the disk 8| it happened to engage.

In the present machine the ratio of the driving gears 68, 69, 1|, 12, 13, and 14 is such as to rotate shaft 56 two revolutions, for reasons to be presently explained, but it is evident that the printing cylinder 58 will be given only a single revolution so that only one endorsement will be effected on the check or document sorted.

The means for rocking the clutch control arm 81 will now be-described. As shown in Fig. 4 and also at the lower part of Fig. 5, the side frame plates 54 carry a rod 89 which is secured thereto to prevent its rotation by any desirable means. The arm 81 is an extension or side arm of a'bail 98 which is loosely mounted on the rod 89. As best shown in Fig. 7, an arm 9| is loosely mounted on the shaft-89 and between the arm 9| and a second extension or side arm 92 of ball 90 there is interconnected a spring 93.

As best shown in Fig. 8, a spring 94 is connected between the bail 90 and a stud secured to one of a pair of frame plates. so as to tend to rock the bail 98 counter-clockwise to disengage arm 81 from pawl 82. However, the arm 9| (Fig. 7) has a lug 96 which bears against the arm 92 and since the interconnected spring 93 causes the arms 9| and 92 to function as a unit it will be seen that the spring 94 (Fig. 8) causes the lug 96 (Fig. 7) to bear against a profile cam 91 secured to the shaft 56. It willbe recalled that the de pression of the motor release bar 20 will cause shaft 34 to rotate, and by the train of gears described, the shaft 56. The complementary cams 61 have an initial dwell so that the frame carrying the rollers 50, 5|, 52 will be held in normal upward position during the initial rotation of shaft 34 and 56. The lug 96, therefore, will drop to the low part of cam 91 effected by the action of spring 94 removing the clutch control arm 81 from the clutch pawl 82 and causing the engagement of the clutch and thus the rotation of the endorsing rollers 50 and 5| before the frame carrying rollers 50, 5|, 52 is lowered. As the cam 91 (Fig. 7) rotates, the arm 9| will be gradually rocked by being raised, and through the interconnected spring 93 the arm 92 will also be rocked, causing bail 90 to be rocked clockwise to bring clutch control arm 81 to such a position as to intercept and engage the pawl 82 when one revolution of the clutch has been effected.

The selective endorsement is effected by a key 80 (Fig. 8) which is slidably mounted by a slot 98 thereof engaging a fixed stud 99, the key 80 being depressed when an endorsement operation is desired and against the action of a return spring I00. When the key is depressed 2. lug IOI of the key may be seated to one side of a detent extension I'02 to thus hold the key 80 depressed. An extension of one of the side plates 95 (Fig. 5) carries a stud I03 on which is pivotally mounted a spring-urged latch arm I04 having a shoulder engaging a third extension or side arm I05 of the bail 90. The latch arm I04 has a tail I06 in the plane of a stud I01 carried by the stem of key 80. It will be evident that while cam 91 (Fig. 7) will in each operation tend to effect the clutch engagement by permit-ting ball 90 to rock counterclockwise, this operation can only be effected if the key 80 has been depressed so that the pin I01 thereof cooperating with the tail I06 will rock latch arm I04 to disengage it from the extension or arm I05. Assuming that the key 80 is depressed and the clutch engaged, it will be recalled that during the check feeding operation the frame carrying the rollers "50, 5|, 52 will be lowered. It will also be clear that even though the depression of key 80 hasrocked the latch arm I04, as the frame is moved to its lowered position the tail I06 will leave the stud permitting a spring I08 secured to the latch arm I04 to rock the latter. When the frame is in its lowered position a one revolution of the clutch has been effected and arm 81 is restored. When it is restored the latch arm I04 will engage the extension I05, thus latching the ball 90 in position to cause the arm 81 to retain its engagement with the clutch pawl 82 so that another revolution of the printing cylinder 50 cannot be effected.

Usually the width of the checks to be sorted and endorsed is greater than the width of the check endorser cylinder 50 and platen 5|, so it is desirable to provide additional feeding rollers to feed the check. To this end, the shaft 55 carries a plurality of resilient feeding rollers IIO (Fig. 5) cooperating with similar rollers III also driven by the shaft 56. It is evidentthat although a single revolution is given to the printing cylinder the feeding rollers IIO-I II and 52 will continue to feed the check to completely feed it to the selected sorting compartment. For non-endorsing operations only the feedingrollers II'0I II and rollers 52 will effect the feeding operation since the printing cylinder 50 will not be rotated.

It is also desirable to prevent the engagement 7:;

of the clutch if a check has not been properly inserted so as to be fed thus preventing the inked type of the printing cylinder 50 from contacting with the platen roller SI and thus smearing the next check. This is provided for by the following described means.

Each of the frame plates 95 has secured thereto a collar I09 (Fig. 5) pinned by a pin II2 to the fixed rod 89 and by this means the frame plates 95 are held stationary. Each of the frame plates 95 carries a pivot pin 3 upon which is loosely mounted a bail H4 and said ball carries a pair of side arms II5 having lugs H6. The bail II4 also carries a stud In (Fig. 8) normally engaging a fourth extension or arm II8 of the ball 90. Obviously when a check is inserted in the chute I9 and sufliciently to be between the bite of the feeding rollers IIO-III and rollers 505I the lower edge of the check engaging the lugs II6 will rock the bail II4 against the action of a light spring II9 (Fig. 5) thus removing the stud II'I from the extension or arm II8. This will unlock bail at this point and it is evident, therefore, that the clutch will only be engaged when a check is properly inserted.

. As best shown in Fig. 9, a detent arm I20 loosely mounted on the shaft 89 is provided with a wedge-shaped end I2I adapted to engage with a similar shaped recess of the disk 84 when the clutch has terminated its full revolution thus locating the printing cylinder at its home position. The upper end of the detent arm I20 carries a pin I22 and between the pin I22 and a pin I23 carried by the frame plate a spring I24 is extended, and said spring will urge the detent arm to coact with the periphery of the disk 84 and impositively engage its recess when the clutch has been engaged for a full revolution of the shaft 56.

The printing elements of the printing cylinder 50, which are to be later described in detail, co-

act with a rubber impression platen 5I (Figs. 3

and 8) which is loosely mounted on a rod I25 and said rod is carried by side plates I26 loosely mounted on the shaft 55 and which are integral with a bracket plate I21. As best shown in Fig. 3, the bracket plate I2I also has side plates forked to engage the shaft 53 thus positioning the impression platen 5|. The platen 5I loosely rotates on the rod I25 thus effecting the impression farom the inked type elements on the check to e fed.

Endorser mechanism printing elements As previously stated, the printing cylinder 50 is adapted to print certain information upon the check which is fedand sorted to the selected compartment and there will now be described the details of the printing cylinder by means of which such information can be imprinted. These details are best shown in Figs. 10,11, 12, and 13. The printing cylinder generally designated by the reference numeral 50 comprises a member having a distorted U-shaped portion I30 having the section shown in Figs. 11, 12 and 13 and which also has integral side plates I3I and I32 (Fig. 10). The right side plates I32 is attached to a bushing I29 loosely mounted on the shaft 56 and to said bushing there is secured the disk 84 previously referred to.

A U-shaped member I34 is loosely mounted on a bushing I28 but fixed to a sleeve I33, said mem ber being mounted within the external U-shaped member designated by the reference numerals I80, IJI, I82 and the U-shaped member I34 has an integral lug I35 (Fig. 11) which enters in a hole in the aforementioned portion I30 so as to hold the U-shaped member I34 in fixed relationship and cause it to rotate with the member I30, I3I, I32. The side plates of the U-shaped. member I34 has joumalled therein a rod I36 which forms the support for a plurality of settable printing wheels. The set of printing wheels designated by reference numeral I31 comprises four settable printing wheels which are adapted to print the date of the month, and the year. The set of settable wheels designated by reference numeral I38 is adapted to print the block number and such wheels are manually set to print the same number on a group of checks comprising a single run.

passing a number of checks through the machine it iS desired that each of the checks sent thrmmh To the studs I49 of each carrier I42, I43 there is connected a. related spring I5I, I52 (Fig. 12) which rocks the electroplates so that the rods I49 bear against the cam plates I41, I48. In the position shown in Figs. 11 and 12 the cam plates I41, I48 have caused their cam portions cooperating with rods I49 to rock. both electroplates about their respective pivots I44, I45 to elevate the plates and bring their printing type to the printing circumference.

As intimated it is desirable to suppress, at times, printing from the electroplates I40 and MI and this is effected by turning the cam plates I41, I48 to the position shown in Fig. 13 whereby the cam portions permit both electroplates to be rocked about their pivots by their springs I5I-I52 to position them below'the printing circumference. The position of the cam plates I41, I48 is settable by an arm I53 '(Fig. 10) at- I12 is mounted a spring urged lever I14 pivotally carrying a spring urged pawl I15 and said pawl coacts with the ratchet teeth of the disk I13. A spring pressed retrograde preventing pawl I16 retains the ratchet disk I12v in its successivelygages and rotates disk 84 the notch therein coacting with the wedge-shaped end I2I of detent arm I will rock the latter counterclockwise about the stud 89 and the bell crank I16 in the same direction about the stud I03, and thus the extension I11 of the bell crank will be moved in the path of the extension I18 of the lever I 14 and actuated by the extension I11 when the frame is lowered. By means of the pawl I15 the rocking of the lever I14 will rotate the disk I13 one step for each endorsing operation.

When the disk I13 has been stepped thirty steps one of the studs I19 carried thereby will coact with a bell crank I which is loosely pivoted on a stud I 8| carried by the box I10. As the pin I19 moves counterclockwise in a concentric path its coaction with the edge I82 will rock the bell crank I80 counterclockwise so that its arm I83 which has a connection to a plunger or piston I84 will successively elevate the same thereby effecting a suction in the cylinder in which the piston fits. As the piston I84 is raised a spring I85 connected to the arm I 83 is-tensioned.

Reference numeral I88 represents a cylinder in which the piston I84 fits. The casting also has an opening I81 (Fig. 6) opening into the inte rior of the box, and a by-pass I88 is the opening between the cylinder and the opening I 81. The opening I81 also has fitted therein a ball-check valve I89.

Obviously as the piston I84 elevates a suction is effected in its cylinder and created in the open ing I 81 which draws the ball-check valve I89 downwardly thereby permitting ink to flow in the opening I 81, and by-pass I88 into the cylinder, thereby filling such with ink from the ink supply. When the piston I84 has been completely elevated one of the pins I19 will pass by the edge I82 and the spring I85 will now be effective to force the piston I84 downwardly, thereby effecting pressure upon the recesses filled with ink. As the ratchet wheel is stepped the piston I84 will be lowered step by step under the action of the previously tensioned spring I85. will close the ball-check valve I89 and open a ball-check valve I90 opening to a fitting I9I The fitting I9I has connected thereto a pipe I92 terminating over the ink roller I6I, and said pipe hasholes I93 out of which the ink pumped in the pipe I92 is forced and thus gives a new supply of ink to the roller I6I located beneath suchholes. The ink from roller I6! to roller I60 is conveyed both by capillary attraction and direct contact of the fibers.

From an understanding of the present invention it will be seen that the pump will be actuated only when the key 80 is depressed for endorsing operations, and when such endorsing operations are required only when the clutch is actually engaged.

Variable ink fe d adjustment It is desirable to provide for an adjustment of the ink feed so as to provide for feeding the ink This pressure the greatest amount when the full endorsement is required and a. reduced ink feed when only the block number and data are printed.

To this end the bell crank I80 is provided with an extension I95 which coacts with either one of two adjusting screws I96, I91, carried by a lever I98, which is pivoted by a stud I99 tothe box I10. A toggle spring 200 has one end thereof connected to a stud 20I carried by the box I10 and the other end to a stud 202 carried by the lever I98 and the toggle acts to hold the lever in the full line position shown in Fig. 5 or the dotted line position. The upper end of the lever I98 extends, of course, out of the cabinet for exterior manual adjustment, and operates in a slot in a plate 203, which is marked Full or Reduced, designating the two control positions.

Obviously in the full line position of lever I98 shown in Fig. 5, and the outward position of the adjusting screw I96 the piston I84 is in its lowest position so as to permit the raising of the piston I84 the greatest extent to give the maximum ink feed. When the lever I98 is shifted to the dotted line position end with the adjusting screw I91 as shown, the screw I91 coacting with an inclined portion 204 of extension I95 will rock the bell crank I80, elevating the piston I84, and in the dotted line position'of lever I98 the screw I91 will coaot with the extremity of extension I95 in the same position as shown in Fig. 8 for the screw I96. In this manner the piston I84 is set to an elevated position so that one of the pins I19 will rock the bell crank I80 a slighter extent, and thus piston I84 pumps ink to the pipe I92 but to a reduced amount. The extension I95 has the inclined portion 204 and another inclined portion 205 one of which coacts with one of the adjusting screws I96, I91, and being resilient they coact with the screws to assist in holding lever I98 in its position of adjustment.

For any position of lever I98 the extent of ink feed can be varied by turning the screws I98, I91 in or out, and thus an exact and desired amount of ink may be fed. This will prevent smearing or smudging of the endorsed checks which would be likely to occur if no variation was provided.

It is also pointed out that any ink in excess of that which can be received in recesses during the suction stroke of the piston may pass up the cylinder in which the piston fits, and any excess ink carried by the elevation of the piston I84 will be received by a channel 206 (Fig. 5) which communicates to the box I10 thus re-entering such excess ink.

Mzs-operation warning device While the machine disclosed is practically operative and will give eificient service the nature of the work for which it is designed requires perfect operations at all times. Obviously if a mechanism should fail to operate a check may pass through without the endorsement and even one such mis-operation should be guarded against. It is for such a safe-guard that the presently described device is preferably utilized.

As best shown in Fig. 5 the stem of the endorses key 80 carries a pin 2I0 which is adapted to close contacts 2 when the key is depressed and such contacts are retained closed by the latching of the depressed key. 4

From Fig. 8 it will be noted that when the operating lever I14 returns to its home position after being reciprocated an extension 2 I2 thereof will close contacts 2I3, and obviously such contacts 2I3 will remain closed if the lever I14 is not operated by the extension I", which occurs. it will be recalled, when due to some failure the clutch causing the endorsing operation is not engaged. It is evident, therefore, that if a clutch engagement is not effected, when required by the depression of the key 80, contacts 2I3 will not be opened and under such conditions, a circuit, now to be described with reference to Fig. 2, will be closed. From the line side 24, wire 2, a buzzer 2I5, contacts 2 closed by pin 2") of key 80, a wire 2I6 to contacts 2I3 now closed because lever I I4 has not been operated due to the failure of the clutch to engage, a wire to cam controlled contacts 2I'I, to the line side 26. The contacts 211 are closed by an insulating segment 2) secured to the disk 35 and closes the contacts 2II at the time the operation of the lever I I4 would have opened the contacts 2 I 3. The warning given by the buzzer will inform the operator of the misoperation so that the failure can be investigated.

Single control adjustment of ink feed and endorser printing mechanism While the machine may be provided with independently operated means for adjusting the ink feed and also for the positioning of the endorser printing plates, it is preferable to utilize and provide a single control for each of these means and the preferred construction will now be described.

As best shown in Figs. 5 and 8, to the ink control lever I98 there is connected a link 22I which is articulated to an arm 222 secured to a rock shaft 223. The rock shaft 223 has also secured thereto an arm 224 to which is connected a slidably mounted adjusting plate 225 (see Fig. 6A). The adjusting plate 225 is provided with a positioning slot 226 engaging the pin I54 which, it will be recalled, is carried by the arm I53.

When it is desired, for example, to effect a partial endorsement, that is without utilizing the endorser printing plates I40 and HI for endorser printing operations, the ink feed control lever I98 is moved from the full line position shown in Fig. 8 to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 8-. In moving the lever I98 to the dotted line position the ink feed. will be reduced and the link 22I will be drawn to the right thereby through the arm 225 rocking the shaft 223 and 3 arm 224 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6A and 8. This will draw the adjustin plate 225 to the right and through the coaction of the positioning slot 226 with the stud I54, the arm I53 will also be rocked in a clockwise direction thereby rocking the sleeve I28 and the cam plates I41 and I48 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 11 thereby rocking said cam plates to the position shown in Fig. 13 wherein it will be seen that the endorser printing plates I40 and MI are in depressed position.

It will be recalled that for the endorser printing operations that the frame carrying the endorser printing cylinder, etc., is depressed and this movement before the rotation of the printing cylinder will cause the pin I54 (Fig. 6A) to be initially moved out of coaction with the posiinclined edge :21 or m (Fig: 6A) and cam the tioning slot 226 and further out of coaction with any portion of the adjusting plate 225 permitting the arm I53 to be freely rotated in the endorsing operation.

In the event that the ink control lever I98 should be shifted out of either set position during the endorsing operation, when the frame is elevated the stud I54 will coact with either an arm I53 and thereby the cam plates I46, I 41 to a new position and accordingly positioning the endorser printing plates I4 I, I42.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a single modification it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is: v

In a check endorsing machine, an endorsing roller and cooperating roller, an operating shaft for said rollers and a one revolution clutch intermediate said rollers and shaft, automatic means rendered operative by said shaft for releasing said clutch for engagement, an element actuated by a check inserted between said rollers,

and means controlled by said element in response operative by said shaft to release said clutch for engagement.

In a check endorsing machine, an endorsing roller, a cooperating platen roller, a drive shaft therefor, a one revolution clutch intermediate said shaft arid cooperating platen and endorsing rollers which upon engagement drives said rollers for an endorsing operation, automatic means rendered operative by the rotation of said shaft for releasing when effective said clutch for engagement, an element actuated in response to a check inserted between said rollers, a check control key, and means controlled by said element and said check control key for controlling the operation of saidautomatic means to render said automatic means effective in response to the insertion of a check and an operation of said endorsing rollers required by said check control key.

3. In a check endorsing machine, check feed ing rollers, an endorsing and cooperating platen roller, a drive shaft, the rotation of which rotates said check feeding rollers to feed a single check, a clutch intermediate said drive shaft and said endorsing and platen rollers to cause the rotation of said rollers by the engagement of said clutch, and automatic means operated by said drive shaft for effecting the automatic release of said clutchto elfect the rotation of said check endorsing and platen rollers.

4. In a check endorsing machine, an endorsing and cooperating platen roller, a reciprocable frame carrying said rollers, a drive shaft driven two revolutions for each endorsing operation, a clutch intermediate said rollers and said drive shaft for effecting by the clutch engagement the rotation of said rollers by said drive shaft, means for effecting the clutch engagement, means for effecting thedisengagement of said clutch, and means rendered effective by said frame and in response to its reciprocation for causing the means for effecting the disengagement of the clutch to disengage the clutch at the termination of a-single revolution of said drive shaft. 7

5. In a check endorsing machine provided with a reciprocable frame carrying check endorsing and feeding rollers and a chute in which checks to be fed are inserted to be interposed between said endorsing rollers, said frame being moved to position said rollers from the chute to acompartment, the combination of means for driving said endorsing rollers, manual means, each manipulation of which causes the operation of said driving means to drive said endorsing rollers for a single cycle of operation to endorse a single check means comprising a check actuated element carried by said frame and actuated in response to a check inserted in the chute and interposed between said rollers in the normal upward position of said frame, and means controlled by said element and operated thereby in response to its actuation by an interposed check for causing said endorsing and platen rollers to be initiated in operation by the manipulation of said manual means.

6. In an endorsing machine, a drive shaft, check endorsing rollers, clutch connecting means which is engaged to connect said shaft and said rollers to causethe latter to effect an endorsing operation, means operable when released and operated by said shaft to effect a clutch engagement, and means comprising check actuated fingers actuated in response to a check inserted between said rollers to cause the release of said last named means.

'7. In an endorsing machine, a drive shaft, check endorsing rollers, clutch connecting means which is engaged to connect said shaft and said rollers to cause the latter to effect an endorsing 9 operation, means operable when released and operated by said shaft to effect a clutch engagement, means comprising an endorsing control key and check actuated means to cause the release of said last named means, and means controlled by said-key and said check actuated means for causing, when said key is in effective position and when said check actuated means have been actuated in response to a check inserted between said rollers, the release of the means which effects the clutch engagement.

8. In an endorsing machine the combination of endorsing printing and platen rollers, a driving shaft therefor, clutch connecting means intermediate said shaft and said rollers, means operable when released and, operated by said shaft to cause a rotation of said rollers to effect an endorsing operation, and means to control said second named means to determine the engagement of said clutch comprising an endorsing control key and check actuated means operative in response to an insertion of a check between said rollers, and separate means controlled by both said key and by said check actuated means to control the operation of the second named means by said driving shaft.

9. In a check sorting and endorsing machine for handling checks individually and effecting the selective endorsement of checks fed to selected compartments and which is provided with feeding rollers for feeding the checks and a main operating shaft of the machine for rotating said feeding rollers and including a manually operable means each manipulation of which causes the main operating shaft to be rotated to operate the machine and to drive the check feeding rollers to feed a single check, the combination of an endorsing mechanism for said checks, coupling means intermediate said endorsing mechanism and said drive shaft to cause upon its engagement said operating means to actuate said check endorsing mechanism, automatic means rendered operative by the rotation of the shaft for releasing said coupling 'means for engagement, an element actuated in response to a check inserted between said feeding rollers, a check endorsing control key, and separate means controlled by said element and said control key each for controlling the operation of said automatic means to render said automatic means operative in response to the actuation of said element and the operation of the check control key.

10. In a check sorting and endorsing machine for handling checks individually and effecting the selective endorsement of checks fed to selected compartments and which is provided with feeding rollers for feeding the checks and a main operating shaft of the machine for rotating said feeding rollers and including a manually operable means each manipulation of which causes the main operating shaft to operate the machine and to drive the check feeding rollers a plurality of revolutions to feed a single check, the combination of endorsing mechanism comprising cooperating endorsing and platen rollers for endorsing said checks, 2. coupling means intermediate said endorsing roller and said drive shaft which upon engagement causes said operating means to actuate said endorsing roller, automatic means rendered operative by the initial rotation of the shaft for releasing said coupling means for engagement, automatic means for disengaging the coupling means at the termination of a single revolution of said drive shaft, an element actuated in response to a,check inserted between said feeding rollers, a check endorsing control key, and separate means controlled by said element and said control key each for controlling the operation of said automatic means to render said automatic means operative in response to the actuation of said element and the operation of the check control key.

SAMUEL BRAND. 

